A much-needed end-of-summer escape took me from the pebble beaches of the Côte d’Azur to the broad boulevards of the City of Lights. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Clear blue waters—perhaps nothing is as relaxing or reinvigorating as waking up early, sliding up the window shade on a 767 and gazing out at the morning sun and clear blue waters of the Bay of Angels in Nice.

One tomato, two tomato, three tomato, four—the freshest tomatoes, garlic, olives (and, most important in the early morning, croissants) were found in the market on Nice’s Cours Saleya. It became a daily stop for all things edible and fresh.

Wine and cheese—one of the joys of life in the south of France is the endless supply of incredible cheeses and cold white wine. At the end of a hot day, nothing is better. If you’re in Marseille, a port city on the coast that’s France’s second biggest, grab a chair at the bar at La part des Anges, where you can sample your way through the white wines of France by the glass. If you’re wise, you’ll let whoever is behind the bar choose your wines—they seem to never fail.

My blue shoes—head to 0fr. System’s Bookshop, Librairie, HQ on Rue Dupetit-Thouars in the Marais for great art books, cool accessories and (most important, in my opinion) a pair of Rivieras Leisure Shoes. You can buy them in other places, but why would you when you can get them here? The navy ones are my new obsession.

The egg came first—for an unbeatable last meal, I headed to La Fontaine de Mars in the 7e, where a quick Kir Royal was followed by ouefs au Madiran “facon meurette” (quite simply the most amazing way to eat an egg) poached in red wine with bacon and onions—and the best roast chicken I’ve ever had.

(Post by John Hadeed, image credit: La part des Anges, shoes, La Fontaine de Mars)